The third preseason game, between the Jets and the Eagles Friday night at MetLife Stadium, will likely go down as a footnote to many. The Jets' regular-season opener against the Steelers is two weeks away and the majority of roster spots throughout the NFL are likely set. With roster cuts looming on Tuesday, rookie DT Payton Page is intent on leaving a lasting impression.
"I feel like you have to have the mindset that this is going to be your last game playing football ever or you're going to keep playing football," he said this week. "Actually, that's my mindset going into every day. Being a UDFA, I see dudes leaving the locker room every single day and that's just more motivation for me. I'm damn sure not getting sent home over football or anything I can control. I'm trying to make it real hard for them to snip the scissors on me, so I'll try my best."
Page was a one-year starter and team captain last season at Clemson, recording 32 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 PD and 1 INT. The Greensboro, NC, native, who attended Dudley High School, arrived at Clemson in 2021 and faced limitations due to his girth.
"I came in at 400 pounds and during that Covid period is when I lost most of it," Page said of his weight. "So I got it back down to like 350 by the of start my sophomore year and that's the time I was actually able to contribute. Once I was able to lose weight and be able to actually move and not get tired in two plays, I could actually start putting stuff on tape."
Despite being a 2024 all-conference selection, Page (6-4, 300) went undrafted before becoming one of 15 UDFAs to sign with the Jets on May 9. But before he started his professional trek, Page was devastated that he wasn't one of 257 picks during the 2025 NFL Draft.
"I was so defeated that night and I just keep remembering that night," he said. "It gives me a lot of motivation. I was so defeated that I wouldn't answer a phone call from anybody. I put my phone on mute, I didn't want to talk to anybody, and my agent finally said you need to talk to some people and he named a few teams. He said the Jets really liked me and I'm like, 'Shoot, I really like you all, too then. I like whomever likes me.' I really didn't get a chance to speak to everybody, but my agent said it was a good fit. So, I trusted him and went with it."
See the Jets players take the field during training camp for the last time this summer under a downfall of rain.
The Jets altered the DT landscape this week, reportedly acquiring DT Harrison Phillips from Minnesota and DT Jowon Briggs from Cleveland in trades. Page, who has good quickness and strength, is competing for a depth role on the defensive interior.
"It's amazing. But at first, it's more of a shock factor," he said. "It's like damn, I'm really in the league. I'm here with the Jets and with dudes I used to watch on TV and look up to and I'm here with them now. So, it's a surreal experience and I'm just blessed to be here."
Jets HC Aaron Glenn said on Tuesday that "a good amount" of his starters won't play against the Eagles. The Jets will get one last look at Page and several other roster hopefuls who also could be considered for the Green & White's practice squad.
"It gives us the chance to look at some of our other young guys and give them plenty of playing time so we can evaluate them," Glenn said. "Obviously, it's getting down to cutting time as far as who's going to make the 53, then who of the 69 guys we're going to have in totality. So, it's important to go out there and really watch these guys and see how they operate. We got to give everybody a chance, and that's what we've been doing for the most part."
Glenn and GM Darren Mougey will look to fill out next week's roster with smart, tough, aggressive and resilient players.
"Give me the best player," Glenn said. "The tape tells me everything that I need to know, and then the character tells me everything that I need to know. We wipe the slate clean, and we are a team that's going to get the best player. I don't care where you come from. I don't care how much money you make. I want the best player. To me, that's what the best teams are built off on."
One game, one opportunity. While Jets stars including Quinnen Williams will likely be kept out of action, players like rookie Payton Page will audition for the Jets and the league.
"I think I've done very well especially keeping my mental in a certain type of way," Page said. "But I've heard a lot of good things from people like Q. Q has told me to keep my head up a lot, so there is good stuff going on."
